Matlab Diarrhoea Hospital crowded with patients

OUR CORRESPONDENT

CHANDPUR, Dec 28: Matlab Health Research Centre of the ICDDRB, widely known as Matlab Diarrhoea Hospital in the district, has been crowded with diarrhoea patients.

Official sources said as many as 600 patients get admitted to the hospital every day. Most of them are children under 6.

Talking to the FE, Dr Sharif Khan, a doctor of the hospital, has confirmed the message.

The number of diarrhoea patients have increased in the recent weeks as the winter season has set in, he added.

"Most of the patients are from different districts. Every day, around 600 diarrhoea patients rush to this hospital from Chandpur, Noakhali, Luxmipur and Cumilla districts."

Each admitted patient has to stay in the hospital for four hours to get proper treatment and then they are released with medicine and counselling.

Due to the rush of patients during the chilly winter days, the patients have to take folding beds/seats on the corridors where congestion occurs every now and then.

During a visit to the hospital on Friday, this correspondent found that treatment and medicine are being given at free of cost.

All the nurses and other staff members are very active and energetic. They take good care of the patients.

It was observed that there are no medical representatives from medicine companies and any brokers.

It was observed that on the hospital premises, there is no shed where attendants of patients can sit or stay for a while.

The situation becomes worst during the rainy days and too much chilly days and nights in winter.

Arif Mia and Md Sajib said they came here from Ramganj Upazila of Luxmipur for better treatment of their little sons suffering from diarrhoea.

Monirul Islam of Shantipur village in Laksham

Upazila of Cumilla said he came here for proper treatment of his child.

"I've taken my twin kids to the diarrhoea hospital for better treatment," says Rumana Akter, who hailed from Tomsom Bridge in Cumilla.

An elderly patient, Fazlul Haque, of Mehar Uttar village of Shahrasti Upazila in Chandpur returned home after his wife got proper treatment from the

hospital.

There are no irregularities in the hospital, guardians of the patients said while talking to this correspondent.

[email protected]